Corpus Christi

There are an extensive number of potentially injury-causing accidents that could occur on a maritime worksite. Musculoskeletal injuries including back, neck, and knee injuries are the most common damaging incidents. These cumulative injuries are common due to a physically demanding work environment.

Other Maritime Accidents Could Include:

Ship decks, warehouse, and dock areas can become slippery and result in slip and fall accidents. Slips and falls are one of the most prevalent and damaging injuries that could occur on the top. Falling on a wet

Employers are responsible for minimizing known worksite risks, including the ongoing risk of slippery work areas. Failure to follow and/or enforce OSHA safety regulations places liability for an accident on the employer.

Catastrophic accidents leave workers with serious, debilitating, and oftentimes fatal injuries. Survivors of these accidents are left with lingering pain, loss of motion, amputations, and mental trauma.

Catastrophic Accidents Could Include:

Workers who survive these catastrophic accidents are also unable to return to their previous job and/or unable to work entirely.

In 2020, Corpus Christi suffered one of the most catastrophic maritime accidents in recent history. A ship owned by Orion Marine Group, called the Waymon Boyd, struck a 16-inch liquid propane gas pipeline.

The cutterhead struck the Enterprise Product pipeline, TX129. The pipe break released propane, which resulted in an explosion, after reaching the engine room.

The accident occurred during dredging operations. 18 Orion Marine Group employees were working on the dredge, nearby barges, and other assist boats when the explosion occurred. The explosion killed 4 and critically injured 6 workers.

The most disturbing findings of the accident were cited in a report by the National Transportation Safety Board. The board revealed the Corpus Christi explosion that injured and killed several workers was 100% preventable.

Orion Marine group had been aware of the potential risk associated with navigation near the dangerous pipeline. The company has even admitted to discussing the issue internally. However, Orion Marine Group intentionally neglected to develop an accurate risk assessment. The company also failed to notify Enterprise Products about the risks.

Orion Marine Group was found to be the direct cause of the 2020 Corpus Christi Explosion. The company is liable for all damages due to poor/non-existent risk assessment, planning, and management.

All Corpus Christi Port workers, including both on land and offshore, are entitled to specific legal protection under maritime law. Maritime personal injury law ensures that injured workers are duly compensated for all damages that occur because of on-the-job injuries, illnesses, and accidents.

If you or a loved one has been hurt performing ship-related work, you are entitled to specific legal protections under maritime law.

All maritime workers are entitled to specific forms of compensation based on the circumstances involved in the case.

Injured Workers May Receive Compensation for:

For example, a maritime worker would have an automatic right to due compensation if they contracted a serious bacterial infection at sea. This form of legal financial protection is granted to the sea under the provision called maintenance and cure.

The ill worker, mentioned above, would have a legal right to sue if an employer refuses to compensate fairly for maintenance and cure.

The Jones Act entitles all seafarers and crew members to a right to maintenance and cure. This provision requires employers to compensate workers for room and board, food, and additional daily living expenses until they recover. This form of compensation is due regardless of which parties are at fault.

All Corpus Christi maritime workers have a right to sue when they are not duly compensated for injury or accident damages. There may be several parties that are legally responsible for your injuries

Eligible relatives have a legal right to sue their loved one’s employer when a worksite incident results in death. Most fatal maritime accidents are either directly, or indirectly, a result of some form of employer negligence.

Reach out to a Texas maritime lawyer if a loved one suffered a maritime accident that involved fatal injuries. You may be due rightful payment if you have lost a loved one to a maritime worksite injury or catastrophic accident.